IT'S BUSINESS as usual ­ that's the message from a Frodsham craft centre despite fears for the future of the popular visitor attraction.

The Lady Heyes Crafts and Antique Restoration Centre in Kingsley Road has been under investigation by trading standards officers at Vale Royal Borough Council since May.

But five months down the line, Lady Heyes proprietor Tony Faulkner says: 'There's no way the council will close us down.'

The centre was opened two years ago thanks to a European grant and now houses 60 small businesses, bringing in about £4.5m a year.

But officers have warned traders they are breaching planning permission for the site, which is only licensed for crafts and antiques, by selling bric-a-brac and imported products.

A council spokesman said a full investigation would be carried out which would include visits from enforcement officers.

More than 20 traders were warned they could face closure unless they complied with the regulations. Since then, 15 have moved out and been replaced by other tenants.

Now, after five months without any further action from the council, Mr Faulkner believes any fears over the centre's future can be laid to rest.

He said: 'If you ask me, nothing will come of it. I believe all our tenants are complying with the imposed regulations and there is no way we will be made to close down.

'When we were first told of the investigation by the council, there was a flurry of activity from them. They visited the site and tried to put an enforcement notice on us which didn't stick.

'They told me that they would contact me in seven days after their first visits and, five months later, we have still heard nothing.

'At first I lost 25% of my clients but now I don't have an empty shop on site and we are doing very well. As far as I am concerned, it's business as usual.'

A spokesman for Vale Royal said no comment could be made until the matter was considered at a meeting of the planning committee and a date had yet to be set for that.

He added: 'At the moment, there is no change from when the original statement was made by the planning committee in June. Discussions are continuing and we can make no further comment until the committee meets.'

Planning consultant Alison Heine has been employed by Mr Faulkner to negotiate with the council over the matter.

She said: 'We have been told councillors visiting the site were very impressed with what they saw.'